‘Mamma Mia’ a fun show, despite production flaws
ALBANY, N.Y. » If you need proof that “Mamma Mia” is an indestructible piece of entertainment, look no further than the Capital Repertory Theatre production which continues at the Albany theater until Aug. 13.
This production does not come close to fully realizing the concept of the show – which is to use the most popular of pop music to tell a lighthearted frothy story. However, thanks to energetic performances, great choreography, and, of course the music of ABBA, you will experience many moments of fun.
That said, even the most devoted “Mamma Mia” fan will see the flaws in the production. These include miscasting, a lack of any connection between characters and an overall absence of cohesion throughout the production.
This is a production at odds with itself. Director Maggie Mancinelli-Cahill approaches the first act as if the show is a giant cartoon. Everything and everyone is played broadly and little can be taken seriously.
This is understandable as the plot revolves about Sophie, a 20 year old brideto-be, who reads her mother’s diary and discovers that the father who has been unidentified her entire life could be one of three men. To discover who her father is, she invites each of the men to her wedding without telling her mother. They not only show up, but each man decides he is her father. After 20 years of no contact, they decide to intrude in everyone’s lives.
The second act is played as if the fragile plot has emotional depth. The mother, Donna, has a moment with each man. She not only reminisces with them, she also forgives and sends signals that an attraction still exists.
Perhaps the feat of turning silly into sensitivity can be pulled off if the cast is talented enough, but this is not the case at Capital Rep. Though each cast member displays skill, as a company there are no connections being made on stage. All relationships lack honesty and there is no sense of either sincerity or spontaneity in any of the musical moments.
Christina Carlucci magnifies the worst traits of the self-centered Sophie and Lyn Philistine plays the mother Donna as dour. Though Donna has had a tough life and is a survivor, Philistine plays the woman as always serious and rarely shows the charm that makes people want to be her best friend.
Except for the musical numbers. Philistine sings very well and does have several stand-out numbers, the most impressive being “The Winner Takes It All.” She’s also a lot of fun in “Dancing Queen” with her two girlfriends and the trio have a blast in the glam-production number “Voulez Vous.”
One of those girlfriends, Carla Woods, also has fun in “Does Your Mother Know?” but even in that number she is second banana to the sexy and acrobatic dancer Harris Chandler. The other of those girlfriends, Rosie, played by Kara Mikula – a delight throughout the show - has a show-stopping number of her own with the comically bawdy version of “Take a Chance on Me.”
If there is a star of the show, it is choreographer Freddy Ramirez whose dances are energetic fun. Except for the leads, the singing is rarely more than adequate as the orchestrations do little more than capture the general sense of ABBA without capturing its essence.
Technical support is fantastic. Scenic designer Brian Prather creates an attractive space that serves the needs of a movement-heavy show. Costume designer Howard Kaplin does an incredible job making horrible fashion statements look adorable. His work in the over-the-top finale is wondrous, even though it serves a cause that seems desperate in its need to make the audience feel it is having fun.
The good thing about the problems in the production is that it is possible for everything to improve over the run. As the cast grows comfortable with each other and stops pushing too hard, what now seems frantic might become fluid. Let’s hope so.
“Mamma Mia” is at Capital Repertory Theatre through Aug. 13. For tickets and schedule information call 518-SHOW or go to capitalrep.org.